Cotton-chopper.



PATENTED MAR. 31, 1903.

T. M. SHORT.

COTTON CHOPPER.

APPLICATION FILED mo. 23, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

Q/Vihwoaco UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS MASSEY SHORT, OF NEW LEWISVILLE, ARKANSAS.

COTTON-CHOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 723,931, dated March31, 1903.

Application filed December 23,1902, Serial No. 136,311. (No model.) V Ierence marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a cotton-chopper attachment for cultivators, andhas for its object a simple and efficient attachment of this kind whichmay be adjusted vertically to chop at varying depths.

A further object is to provide a chopper so constructed that thedistance between th stands may be varied.

My invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- V Figure 1is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a top plan view. Fig. 3 is a detailView, in front elevation, of the pitman and adjoining parts by which thechopper is operated.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 5 and 5 indicate two beams whichcomprise the main frame of my machine- They are supported at the rearend on the arched axle 6. The main frame has a tongue 7 extendingoutwardly from its front end.

The numeral 8 designates cultivator-beams, pivoted near their frontends, as at 8, to brackets 9, secured to the main frame. Cultivatorshovels or scrapers 8 which may be of any preferred type, are secured tothe beams 8. These cultivators are arranged in,

pairs near the front and rear ends, respectively, of the main frame.

The cultivators are raised or lowered by hand-levers 10, connected tothe cultivatorbeams by rods 10, crankshafts 10 and links 10. Thehand-levers have the usual spring-latches engaging toothed segments 11.One hand-lever and its accessory parts are provided for each pair ofcultivators, and the levers are placed near the drivers seat 12, so asto be within'easy reach.

The cotton-chopper comprises a shank 13,

cross-beam 15 on the main frame.

the upper end of which is hinged, as at 13, to a stem 14: to swingsidewise, and to the lower end of the shank the chopper-blades 13 aresecured. The upper end of the stem 14 is threaded and passes through ahole in a screwing the nut 16 and raising or lowering the stem the depthto which the blades cut is varied.

The chopper is oscillated by the following mechanism: To one of thewheels 17, preferably to the spokes thereof, a relatively largebevel-gear 18 is secured, which meshes with a pinion l9, fixed to theshaft 20. This shaft is supported in suitable bearings 21, formed on abracket 21, secured to the main frame, one end of the shaft beingjonrnaled in the axle 6. The other end of the shaft has a crank 22,connected by a pitman 23 to the chopper-shank 13. The construction ofthe pitman is such'that it may be lengthened or shortened, permittingvariations in the stroke.

of the chopperviz., a sleeve 24 is secured to the chopper-shank 13 andthe pitman is hinged thereto, as at 2-1. The other end of the pitman isthreaded, as at 24", and screws into a link 25, secured to the crank-pin22 The link has an opening into which the pitman passes and is heldbetween nuts 26 and 26. The crank-pin screws into the crank, beingthreaded for that purpose, and is held by nuts 27 and 27. By removingthe nuts and crank-pin the link 25 may be turned and screwed up on thepitman, shortening the same. By shortening the pitman sufficiently thestroke of the chopper will be such that it will chop on one side of arow of plants onlythat is, its throw will be so shortened that thechopper will not swing on the outthrow much,

if any, beyond the vertical, so that it will not take the row on theback stroke, but will cut one way only. By lengthening the pitman thechopper will swing to both sides of the vertical and cut the row ofplants both ways.

The distance between the stands may thus be varied as desired.

A whifl'letree 28 is secured to the front bracket 9, and attachedthereto are the singletrees, to which the draft-animals are secured.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is-'-.

ICO

I to, means for oscillating the same comprising i l l a wheel -drivencrank-shaft, a pitman secured thereto and hinged to the chopper-shankbelow the pivotpoint of the same, and means for lengthening andshortening the pitman, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

T. MASSEY SHORT.

Witnesses:

TILMAN B. PARKS, C. T. SHORT.

